Thomas' story made for the big screen

Ward steps up for 'Canes

Carolina Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward may have seen better days, but never as fantastic a finish in the 'Canes first-round win over New Jersey.

It was a power-play goal by Devils forward Brian Rolston that Ward wishes he had another shot at. It gave the Devils a 3-2 lead and, at the time, an adrenaline shot that appeared to be just what the doctor ordered.

"It was a goal I wish I could have back, but you have to do the best you can to forget about it," Ward said. "Rolston really stepped into the shot; it was a cannon and the puck dipped on me. At that moment, that could make or break a team, but we regrouped and played better in the second and third period with the mindset we would eventually find a way, and we did."

Ward shook off the goals, as he has done time and time again throughout the 2008-09 season, and played magnificently in the final period when it mattered most, stopping all 12 shots to help rally the Hurricanes to an incredible 4-3 victory in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal.

"When the score was 3-2, Cam was there to make the big saves for us and kept making those saves until we finally got back into the game," Hurricanes forward Jussi Jokinen said.

It was Ward's exceptional play down the stretch in the regular season that enabled the Hurricanes to eventually earn their first playoff berth in three seasons. Perhaps it's a fitting tribute that his stellar play in the third period of the 7th game against the Devils would play a big part in his team advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinals to face the Boston Bruins.

"This victory ranks right up there with the rest of them and I'm enjoying every bit of it," Ward said. "We came in with the mindset to play and never give up and that's what happened."

Ward started 28 consecutive games from Feb. 7 to April 9, going 19-7-2 with a 2.30 goals-against average, .922 save percentage and three shutouts to spark the Hurricanes during their stretch run. He set a franchise record by posting nine consecutive victories from March 18 to April 7 and his 9-0 win over the Islanders on April 7 was his 39th win and seventh shutout of the season, breaking and tying the respective franchise records. In March alone, he went 10-1-2 with a 1.98 GAA and .938 save percentage.

"I think anybody who has been on the Hurricanes these past couple of years can attest that it hasn't been much fun missing the playoffs, especially after winning the Stanley Cup (in 2005-06)," Ward said. "We were playing some really good hockey down the stretch and, personally, I'm enjoying the moment. I was treating it a little bit different this year than in the past. I'm just going out there and doing the best I can to help contribute to the team and our push in the playoffs."

He certainly did that against the Devils Tuesday night.

-- Mike G. Morreale

BOSTON -- According to Bruins coach Claude Julien, Tim Thomas' rise to prominence and nomination for the Vezina Trophy is a movie waiting to happen.

"There's no doubt that his story is going to make for a real good story when it's all said and done," Julien said of his No. 1 goaltender. "It's great to see him get rewarded."

Thomas, who spent nine years working his way up the ranks to get a legitimate shot in the NHL, has accomplished so much and proven himself so many times. Anyone who didn't think that Thomas was worthy of being a finalist this season needs a reality check.

"I think it's obviously warranted. I think he deserves it and hopefully he gets it," Julien said. "So it's just one of those things that he's done enough for this team and he certainly deserves the recognition. I just think that at what point, what do you have to try to keep proving? To me, he doesn't have to prove anything. I don't think he has to prove to anybody that he belongs in this League."

Thomas, who will be in action Friday night (7:30 p.m. ET, VERSUS, TSN, RIS) against the Carolina Hurricanes, led the NHL in goals-against average (2.10) and save percentage (9.33) and posted a 36-11-7 record. He was honored to be nominated for the Vezina, but took the recognition with humility.

"It's quite an honor. Just breaking into the NHL a few years ago, you're always trying to make your goals bigger, but you want to make them reasonable. You know, one step at a time," Thomas said. "Being a Vezina finalist was always off my radar. I think as the year went on this year, I realized that there might be a chance. But it's quite an honor."

While Thomas has most definitely proved he belongs in the NHL with this Vezina nomination, two All-Star appearances and a new four-year, $20 million contract, he sees leading his team to the Stanley Cup as another opportunity to prove himself.

"That's the ultimate prize, of course, and I hope I can help us do that, but right now we need to be focused on the next game because that approach is what got us here," Thomas said. "But overall, I think if you compete hard and always feel like you can prove to yourself you're better each day, that is what keeps you going. That is what got me here and that is what I need to do to stay at this level and succeed."

Julien saw that competitiveness in Thomas when he first started coaching the Bruins, and it hasn't stopped.

"I still remember that one day when we were trying to get our team to score more and we did those 3-on-0s and you had to stay until you scored and at one point I had to blow the whistle because Timmy wasn't letting them score. So I called, 'Uncle,' " said Julien with a laugh. "That just showed me his competitiveness. He was diving everywhere and was determined not to let them score."

That is what got Thomas through so many seasons overseas and in the minors, living out of a suitcase and always holding onto his dream that he is living now. But who would star in the movie if this dream-come-true tale made it to the big screen?

"Oh I'm not going there but like I said, there is a movie waiting to happen when all is said and done," Julien cracked. "It's a great story."

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I don't have a crystal ball. Predicting is a real complicated thing. If we stay healthy, have enough depth and get the good goaltending we think we're going to have, you can go all the way. But a lot of things have to happen. There's going to be a lot of teams that think the same thing. Everyone made deals. We're all are optimistic about where we'll end up.

— Rangers general manager Glen Sather after being asked if he's constructed a team that can win the Stanley Cup before their 4-1 win against the Predators on Monday